Cat’s new plan of attack
CAST off by Cricket Victoria, Geelong batter Tom Jackson is ready to put his focus into piling up runs for the Cats next summer.
After two seasons on a Victorian rookie contract, Jackson was cut from the state squad when its 2022-23 contract list was revealed last week.
Geelong pair Tom O’Connell and Brody Couch held on to their deals, with Couch again on a rookie contract.
A knee injury derailed Jackson’s last season, limiting him to nine Premier Cricket appearances and 222 runs at an average of 24.7.
He has yet to make his firstclass debut but has played a handful of second XI matches for Victoria.
The middle-order batter said, at age 21, he had plenty of time to rise back up the ranks and would start at the crease for Geelong.
“I was obviously a little disappointed (to not get a contract), but there is more to life than missing out on a squad,” he said.
“I am still young, I have got plenty of time.
“At the moment, it probably makes me more motivated to work harder and get back to where I want to be.
“I am still trying to get back to what I was before (the injury). It has been challenging and my scores probably tailed off a little bit, so hopefully I can turn it around.”
Jackson has jumped at the chance to play in Darwin and is playing through winter with Tracy Village.
After that, he said he would be spending hours in the nets with Geelong legend Liam Buchanan to prepare for the summer.
“I will probably put everything into Geelong now and just try to do the best I can,” Jackson said.
“I am going to do a fair bit of work with Liam Buchanan when I get back. I am keen to get back into it and work hard.”
A keeper in his junior days, Jackson has picked up the gloves again in the Top End to build an extra skill into his repertoire.
He made a series of 20s in his first three outings for Tracy, carrying on from a frustrating summer.
“I just keep finding the worst ways to get out. It has been frustrating,” he said.
“It felt like I have been hitting the ball pretty well, so hopefully a big score isn’t too far away.”